Family Services Team | Youth Services

Appletree Business Park
2875 Union Road Suite 356 - Cheektowaga

(716) 858-8349

The Family Services Team is a blended unit of the Department of Social Services which presents a "front door" to a wide range of family and youth supports. The goal of the Family Services Team is to assist families in stabilizing their home environments and meeting critical needs within the family which are preventing their success, such as family conflict, mental health, basic needs, disruptive or ungovernable youth behavior, or other types of challenges. The Family Services Team is also the pathway to accessing Wraparound Services and PINS Diversion.

Every family which visits the Family Services Team meets with an Intake specialist. The Intake specialist assesses each youth’s risks/strengths and the family’s needs, to determine optimal linkage to community based services.

The Family Service Team may also be able to assist you if:

Youth willfully does not attend school regularly
Often disobeys parents, guardians, or other authority figures despite appropriate parental attempts to intervene
AWOL (Runaway) whereabouts unknown for over 24 hours
Substance abuse without treatment cooperation.

The goal of the Family Service Team is to assist families in stabilizing their own home environments and preventing youth from penetrating the Juvenile Justice System if possible and appropriate.

What is PINS?

Persons In Need of Supervision is a term used to describe youth with serious behavioral problems who come to the attention of the Juvenile Justice System, whereby an adjudication of PINS is made in Court. FST is not PINS. PINS petitions may be brought to court but Diversion via FST services will be attempted first.

Who is a PINS Diversion Eligible Youth?

Youth under the age of 18 who show a pattern of ungovernable behavior, such as running away, curfew violations, alcohol and/or drug abuse, violent or destructive behavior, or severe school truancy.

As defined by law, a PINS is "a youth less than 18 years of age who does not attend school; or is incorrigible, ungovernable, or habitually disobedient and beyond the control of a parent or other person legally responsible for such child’s care; or a youth who violates the provision of 221.05 of the penal law (unlawful possession of marijuana)."

Who can bring a complaint?

Most PINS behavioral complaints are made by parents, or, in the case of severe truancy problems, by school districts.

Can I use PINS Diversion to PREVENT problems with my teenager?

NO. PINS Diversion cases are accepted only if a pattern of ungovernable behavior already exists. Threats to run away or not attend school are not grounds for PINS intervention.

How do I apply for services?

Families should present themselves to Suite 356 at Appletree Business Park, Cheektowaga, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Parents should be prepared to complete paperwork at the intake meeting with the FST staff. Parents should bring with them the social security numbers and birthdates of all members in their household. This intake meeting is usually one hour in length.
If appropriate, the parent will be referred to the Early Intervention Community Program as a first step in problem resolution.
If your family situation does not meet the criteria for PINS Diversion, the intake worker may be able to direct you to appropriate services elsewhere.

Can I go directly to Family Court?

NO. All PINS Diversion complaints in Erie County must come through the Family Services Team. Generally a service plan is implemented and is required prior to Family Court involvement.

For children under eighteen, do I have to bring my child for the PINS Diversion interview?

The parent may come to the intake appointment without the child or youth.

Forms and Resources

Information about the Children's Single Point of Access (C-SPOA) supports.

The deadline for truancy referrals has passed.

For any family or youth concern, please call (716) 858-8349 to speak with an intake specialist.